GOP takes lead in generic ballot.That didn’t take long. http://tinyurl.com/ctudrb # Read more →
March 2009
Tweets on 2009-03-20
RT @VJnator: The only time Obama is not using the teleprompter is when he uses the word “Look” beginning his sentence.That is the indicator. # Forgot my sunglasses, had to drive 2 work w/out them. Turns out to be overcast, no sun. It’s a good day… # Buy Ichiro’s house – $1.75 million: http://tinyurl.com/ddvkqj # @VJnator He does…it’s an arrogant way to start a sentence. in reply to VJnator # RT @PeteCarroll: Best of luck to Coach Floyd and the Trojans in Minneapolis! Beat the eagles!! # My brother’s visiting from the Pentagon. Not on official business. Nephew’s wedding this weekend. # Building credibility by admitting that you don’t know the answer: http://tinyurl.com/ctyq6s # Read more →
Building Credibility
Many people worry that not knowing something is a sign of weakness, and that if a leader seems not to have all the answers they will lose the confidence of their team. Such people try to pretend they have the answer in every situation, making things up if necessary and never admitting mistakes. However, this approach ultimately backfires. Sooner or later people learn the truth and figure out that the person never admits when they don’t know. When this happens the person loses all credibility: no-one can tell whether the person is speaking from authority or making something up, so it isn’t safe to trust anything they say. On the other hand, if you admit that you don’t know the answer, or that you made a mistake, you build credibility. People are more likely to trust you when you say that you do have the answer, because they have seen… Read more →
An MVP-Caliber Performance
He said it was “an AYSO 10-and-under caliber trophy.” He doesn’t really care though. He doesn’t display the trophies he already has. He had a great season though, and a great game in the finals. The coach asked him to play defenseman this season — which he’s never played — because they had too many forwards. He made a few mistakes but it turned out to be a great coaching move because he’s probably the strongest skater in the league and the best forwards on other teams got frustrated when they couldn’t just skate around him like they could with all the other defensemen. He’d get my MVP vote, if I had an MVP vote, and if the league had an MVP award, which it doesn’t . . . Read more →
IHF Champions
Northwood won their IHF final game against El Dorado, the number one seed, 5-2. I saw this team at the beginning of the season and said to my son, “You guys are going to lose every game.” He said, “I think we’re going to go undefeated.” It turns out he was closer to being right than I was . . . Read more →
Tweets on 2009-03-19
Really looking forward 2 my 1st ski lesson this weekend! Wait, WHAT?! http://tinyurl.com/cx97xu # RT @THE_REAL_SHAQ: Best Dunk ever? http://tinyurl.com/d68vr5 # Embracing elegant solutions w/ a philosophy of doing far more w/ much less. # How have U changed the way U perform your work in the last week? http://tinyurl.com/cpuuru # F’ing gerunds… # Dashboard inspiration w/ sparklines: http://tinyurl.com/cdry8t # At the rink for IHF finals # Read more →
Jack Welch Can Blow Me
I’ve learned a lot from James Bach, but when I looked at his new blog , I couldn’t get past this sentence: I had no idea Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, was such an interesting thinker. Jack Welch!? Really?! Jack Welch is Satan in a suit . . . Read more →
Good News
My wife runs an insurance agency. She handles all the customer service calls herself and as a result, a) she gets to know her customers very well; and b) she hears a lot of bad news. Today she sent me this email: One of my best clients just passed away yesterday. He is 65 years old and had a heart attack. One of these days I’d like to hear good news sometimes. You and Casey are my good news. Probably I don’t say enough good things about her . . . Read more →
Clearly and Simply
Anyone who cannot speak clearly and simply should say nothing and continue to work until he can do so. — Sir Karl Popper HT: Clearly and Simply Read more →
The Art of Ingenuity
Don’t expect big rewards. Don’t expect anyone to beat a path to your door to embrace your ideas. Don’t expect anyone to help or support you. Do it so you can look at yourself in the mirror every day with pride. That’s the biggest and best payoff. Whatever your work, make it your art. All sorts of good things happen when you do. How have you changed the way you perform your work in the last week? — Matthew May, “Elegant Solutions” Read more →
Daily Twitter for 2009-03-18
red beans & rice w/ a fried egg on top. im in heaven… # I just used the word “therein” in a sentence. # Read more →
Daily Twitter for 2009-03-17
RT @BonnieLowe: Chris Brogan’s “If I Started Today” post about social media/networking: http://tinyurl.com/6o5lx3 # eating a green bagel. i m 1/2 irish myself frm okeefes & flynns on my moms side # Read more →
Shot the Monkey
Daily Twitter for 2009-03-16
RT @presentationzen: So what is the good life anyway? http://snipurl.com/dx3od [Mark Albion’s animated movie – worth your 3 minutes] # John Wooden on failures and mistakes: http://tinyurl.com/d2keaf # Haiku on The Myth of Sisyphus: Master of his days / Could Sisyphus be happy? / Camus says he is. # Read more →
Unable to Make Anything Easier
Out of love for mankind, and out of despair at my embarrassing situation, seeing that I had accomplished nothing and was unable to make anything easier than it had already been made, and moved by a genuine interest in those who make everything easy, I conceived it as my task to create difficulties everywhere. . . . — Søren Kierkegaard, Concluding Unscientific Postscript Read more →
Failures and Mistakes
I had mistakes, plenty, but I had no failures. We may not have won a championship every year. We may have lost games. But we had no failures. You never fail if you know in your heart that you did the best of which you are capable. I did my best. That is all I could do. — John Wooden Read more →
Haiku on The Myth of Sisyphus
Master of his days, Could Sisyphus be happy? Camus says he is. Read more →
I Got This Joke From Shaquille O’Neal
From THE_REAL_SHAQ: A Rastaman walks n2 a bank & hands the teller a bag of weed. She says “Sir, what is this 4?” Da Rasta said, “Mi wan open a joint account!” Read more →
HW’s Parenting Pointers
Facebook exchange: 1st woman: Why does my 15-year-old son ALWAYS have to push his boundaries??? 2nd woman: Same reason you and I did at 15 🙂 Yeah — bad parenting. If you haven’t figured out what your kid is all about long before he turns 15, you’re both fucked. Sorry, but I ain’t Doctor Fuckin’ Phil. I’m bringin’ it! Read more →
Hockey Haiku
Northwood wins 3-2 IHF Finals next week May the best team win Grammatically incorrect — “best” should be “better” — but it’s okay because I’ve got a poetic license! It’s right here in my wallet . . . Read more →